THE Universiti Malaya Association of New Youth (Umany) has called on the Higher Education Ministry (MOHE) to retract its guidelines on concerts on university campuses.

It said otherwise, it might initiate a judicial review.

Umany president Ten Kang Yeaw said they received a copy of the guidelines from their student affairs department yesterday.

“We saw the news in China Press. So we asked the department, and it gave us a copy (of the guidelines).

“We believe the guidelines are already in place (for the university),” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Earlier today, Higher Education Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin said guidelines on concerts on university campuses were still pending approval.

He told Malaysiakini that the proposed guidelines had not been submitted to him for approval.

“Not yet approved,” he said.

Under the proposed guidelines, concert attendees are required to follow a modest dress code, which prohibits the wearing of clothing featuring Illuminati, pro-LGBT, or pornographic symbols, as well as “punk” hairstyles.

Artistes are restricted from cross-dressing or wearing attire that is typical of the opposite gender, for instance, male performers are prohibited from wearing earrings, bracelets and shorts.

Ten said Umany is drafting a memorandum, which will be distributed to all universities.

“We are planning to send the memorandum to get the endorsements of all student bodies. Then we will send it to MOHE,” he said.

“If it fails to retract the guidelines within two weeks, then we may initiate a judicial review. We are already talking to lawyers.

“We may also start crowdfunding to pay for the legal fees.”

Umany, in statement, said MOHE had taken on the role of moral policing, attempting to impose religious governance on campuses, which goes against the values of freedom and progress that universities should uphold.

“Although these guidelines currently only apply to concerts, it is worried that this will be an opening whereby various other forms of student activities in the future will undoubtedly be burdened by similar guidelines, leading to a severe curtailment of autonomy in activities, performance and the freedom of expression,” it said.

Umany also said the guidelines, put in place without prior warning and without prior consultation of students’ opinions, was a blatant disregard for the autonomy of tertiary students.

It said MOHE’s action showed a blatant disregard for the secular and liberal values enshrined in the Federal Constitution.

“Umany demands an immediate withdrawal of these guidelines, restoring a university campus that embodies societal freedom,” it said.

“Otherwise, the youth of Universiti Malaya will initiate a judicial review challenging the constitutionality of these guidelines.

“We vow to safeguard student freedoms and defend secularism on campuses.” – September 1, 2023.